AUDITIONS FOR: SOMETHING ROTTEN!

Audition dates: November 9 and November 11, 2026

Performance dates: March 4 – 14, 2027

Directed by Ali Carlson

Set in 1590s London, the hit musical comedy Something Rotten! follows struggling playwright brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom. Desperate to escape the shadow of the Renaissance “rock star” William Shakespeare, Nick consults a misguided soothsayer who predicts the future of theater is “a musical”. Together, the brothers set out to invent the world’s very first musical. 

Auditions

• Monday, November 9 | 6:00–8:00 PM
• Wednesday, November 11 | 6:00–8:00 PM

Auditionees only need to attend one date. Everyone will be seen, even if you arrive at 8:00 PM!

• Location- The Nancy Byng Community Theater, 5852 Maple St Abrams, WI
• There will be paperwork to complete prior to auditioning.
• Please complete this form to sign up for a time.  You are able to change your day – this just helps us plan.
• If you have a conflict with audition times, please reach out and we will see if we can accommodate you
• Prepare 24–32 bars or approx. 1 minute of a song from a musical (not from Something Rotten). You may sing a cappella or use a Bluetooth speaker for your accompaniment. A Bluetooth speaker will be provided, but you’re welcome to bring your own if you prefer.
• There will be a dance portion of the audition- so please wear appropriate clothing and shoes

INTERESTED IN A SPEAKING ROLE? If you are auditioning for one of the following roles, please familiarize yourself with the chosen readings.

Nick (option 1, option 1) • Nigel • Nostradamus • Portia • Bea • Shakespeare • Shylock • Brother Jeremiah • Lord Clapham/Minstrel

You may be asked to read during the audition, particularly if you are unsure which role you would like to be considered for.

Rehearsals

• Rehearsals will begin January 2027
• Rehearsal dates and times will be scheduled around availability, however typical rehearsals will be: Sunday afternoons, Tuesdays and Thursdays in the evening
• There will be a Tech Week of rehearsals Feb. 28th-March 3rd.  These rehearsals will be mandatory.

Performances

• There will be eight (8) performances of Something Rotten!
  • Mar. 4, 7:00 p.m.
  • Mar. 5, 7:00 p.m.
  • Mar. 6, 7:00 p.m.
  • Mar. 7, 1:00 p.m.
  • Mar. 11, 7:00 p.m.
  • Mar. 12, 7:00 p.m.
  • Mar. 13, 7:00 p.m.
  • Mar. 14, 1:00 p.m.
• All performances are mandatory

If you have questions, contact us via email (theater.aspi@gmail.com) or call the box office at 920-826-5852.

Parental discretion advised: some dialogue and themes may not be appropriate for young children

Character Descriptions

Something Rotten character breakdown:

• Minstrel- Gender Fluid. Seeking charismatic actor with a thousand faces. The Minstrel will not only sing the opening number, but also play a lot of the side characters throughout the show.
• Nick Bottom- Male. A struggling renaissance writer at the end of his rope. Nigel’s older brother. Incredibly jealous of the success of William Shakespeare and will do anything to beat him. Seeking a great comedic actor who sings, tap dance skill a plus but not required.
• Nigel Bottom- Male.  Nick’s younger brother. A sweetly naïve young writer and poet, perhaps a little awkward. He falls in love with Portia and ultimately finds confidence in himself through art and love. 
• William Shakespeare- Male. A renaissance rock star. Think Mick Jagger or James Brown. Seeking a comedic actor with a killer pop/rock voice, tap dance skills a plus. 
• Thomas Nostradamus- Gender Fluid. A soothsayer who almost sees the future correctly. A bit loony. They predict that Nick and Nigel will write a musical. Seeking a comedic actor who sings and moves well.
• Bea- Female. Nick’s wife and “Right Hand Man”. She loves and supports him despite his questionable decision making and lack of success. Bea resorts to dressing up like a male to make ends meet and to prove to Nick she can be an actor. Seeking a comedic actress who sings very well.  Ability to belt a plus.
• Portia- Female. An adorably quirky Puritan girl whom Nigel meets on the street. They fall madly in love with each other over their mutual love for Shakespeare and poetry. Seeking a great comedic actress who sings very well.
• Brother Jeremiah- Male.  Portia’s father. A Puritan who despises playwrights, poets and all things ungodly. Seeking a great comedic who sings.  
• Tom Snout, Peter Quince, Snug, Francis Flute– gender fluid roles.  Core members of Nick and Nigel Bottom’s struggling theatrical troupe. As part of the acting ensemble, they bring essential comedic relief, group vocal numbers, and character depth as they navigate the chaotic evolution of the Renaissance theater.  Open to adding more members of the theatrical troupe outside these 4.
• Lord/Lady Clapham- gender fluid role. They are a  patron of the theatre, and fund a troupe of actors, managed by Nick and Nigel Bottom. They are flamboyant in manner and dress, extremely wealthy, and desperate to fund a hit. 
• Robin- Male.  Must be male because he always plays the female roles in the Shakespeare productions. Robin is a member of Nick Bottom’s acting troupe who specializes in playing female characters and performing in drag. Although primarily a comedic ensemble role, Robin provides significant laughs and is an integral part of the show’s musical and comedic numbers. 
• Shylock- Male.  Comedic, big-hearted Jewish moneylender and passionate theatre enthusiast. Because of Elizabethan laws, it is illegal for a Jewish person to be an official theatre patron, but he risks everything to fund Nick and Nigel Bottom’s productions in exchange for being included in the art form he loves.
• Ensemble- Various ages/ethnicities. Seeking traditional dancers and quirky character types who are strong singers and dancers.  There are also some speaking roles as part of Ensemble.
• Dance Corps- Various ages and genders.  Must be able to tap or have basic tap skills.  They will also double as Shakespeare’s “Manservants” or “groupies”